| Viewing Single Post From: Blog and Media Roundup - Thursday, July 2, 2009 | |
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| abb | Jul 2 2009, 06:48 AM |
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http://www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2009/07/01/News/Board.Is.Top.Priority.For.New.Chair.Blue-3749961.shtml Board is top priority for new chair Blue New Chair: Dan Blue By: Toni Wei Posted: 7/1/09 Democratic state Sen. Dan Blue, Law '73, is no stranger to making history. Blue, the first black chair of the Board of Trustees, was also the state legislature's first black Speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives-a position he held from 1991 to 1994-and the first black president of the National Conference of State Legislatures. "I'm extremely honored to be the chair of the Duke Board-to come from being a plain and simple student, to lead the University policy-making board, it's a lifetime honor for anybody I believe, and I especially feel very good about that," Blue said. "I look at it first through those lens, but given Duke's history in the South, you can't help but reflect back a little bit on where we come from as an institution-it's a pretty strong statement of where we are that those issues don't matter in who we choose as a leader today." Blue was elected chair at the Board's May 8 meeting and begins his term today. Blue's election has garnered praise from Durham as well as University leaders. "I think it's a testament to Dan's fortitude and insight-he has great skills and capability and is a proven leader," said Durham Mayor Bill Bell, who worked with Blue last year on Barack Obama's presidential campaign. "There's not a question in my mind he deserves this position." Before attending the School of Law, Blue earned a bachelor's degree from North Carolina Central University in 1970. NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms said Blue has the experience and the record of service required to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. "He is someone who is imminently qualified, well-versed in issues and he's fulfilled leadership positions, so I think he's a wonderful servant leader and it's good for Duke, it's good for the community and it's good for society," Nelms said. "I can assure you that NCCU is proud that an alumnus of this institution has an opportunity to serve at this level." Blue first joined the board in 1995, completing the term of then-retiring trustuee Daniel Tostesen. In 1999, Blue was elected to two more six-year terms-the limit any person can consecutively serve on the Board-and served as vice chair of the Board alongside Richard Wagoner, Trinity '75 and former General Motors chief executive officer. Blue has chaired the Board's Business and Finance Committee and the Trusteeship Committee, and was a member of the Audit Committee. Blue's term-as well as his tenure as chair-will expire in 2011. Blue said his policy-making role will not be drastically different as chair of the Board, because the Board takes a very collaborative approach to decisions. "[On] an exceptionally talented board such as ours, many people bring many skills and different perspectives but also great talent," he said. "We call upon the board members on many things and match their talents with the needs of the University and the administration." Currently a partner at the law firm Blue, Stephens & Fellers in Raleigh, Blue also served in the N.C. House from 1981 to 2002 and again from 2006 to 2009, last month he joined the N.C. Senate when he was appointed to fill the late Democratic state Sen. Vernon Malone's vacated seat. "I certainly thought he'd go very far in politics-some of the jobs I thought he might aspire to are more important than the chair of the Board of Trustees," said George Christie, James B. Duke professor of law and one of Blue's former professors at Duke. "I thought he was destined for some serious positions in life, and in large part he's accomplished that, he's had a distinguished career." Blue said he does not know whether he will pursue another term in the N.C. Senate when his current term ends next year. "I think the Senate is a very important calling, but I'll be quite frank-I'm certainly considering helping to lead Duke to be the most important task at hand," he said. Currently spending his time moving between his four offices, Blue said he was up to the challenge of taking on so many important roles. "It's not difficult," he said. "I learned a long time ago how to delegate and still get stuff done that you need to get done." Blue's political background is a marked change from that of previous Chair Robert Steel, Trinity '73, who served as chief executive officer of Wachovia. "This is the first time Duke will have a prominent voice in the General Assembly," said Phail Wynn, vice president for Durham and regional affairs. "He commands a great deal of respect and has high ethical standards." Wynn added that Blue's political connections will be advantageous to the Board. "He's still very well-connected in Raleigh-locally as well as nationally-and can provide real help to Durham in terms of federal programs and federal dollars," he said. "He brings a different network of connections." Blue said his experience in politics may bring some perspective to the table other board members do not have from having to go out and explain issues to the electorate. He added, however, that he did not think his political expertise will result in a change in the way the Board is governed. "I don't think I'm that unique as far as Duke board members are concerned. I think all of us have an understanding of University constituencies," he said. "It may be that I'm more in the public view, because I have set policy for the state, so from a visibility standpoint, I may make Duke more visible in those circles, but at the end of the day it's about Duke." Blue takes on the role of chair of the Board of Trustees at a challenging time for the University, as administrators attempt to eliminate a $125 million deficit. The Board approved a "flat" $1.8 billion budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year at the same meeting in May during which Blue was elected the next chair. "[Duke is] still very much in a growing mode, and we have to make sure we help set the vision for it so it continues to grow in the best way possible and create the best place for these exceptionally talented students we have," Blue said. "Whatever it takes in this age of competition and the challenge of financial resources, we are doing things that continue to have our University excel and exceed even some of the threshold expectations some of us may have set for it." He added that in the current financial climate, it is especially important to focus on the University's priorities, noting that the Board will ask the administration to ensure that decisions are "well thought-out." "We use all of the resources to our best advantage and it's terms like these that you go through and make sure where you're spending the resources are the very best places to spend them," Blue said. "To be as great of stewards of the University's resources [as possible] and to be of assistance to the administration and basically ensure that Duke continues on its path of greatness-that's what we think about with every decision that we make." |
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| Blog and Media Roundup - Thursday, July 2, 2009 · DUKE LACROSSE - Liestoppers | |
12:26 AM Nov 27
